App-Controlled Taxi Options Are Reducing Drunk Driving Incidents

App-Controlled Taxi Options Are Reducing Drunk Driving Incidents

Posted By
Jonathan Blecher, P.A.

It is hard to go out for a night on the town these days without someone
mentioning Uber, Lyft, or Side Car – the three most popular app-based
taxi services out there. The services were initially founded to easily
connect drivers to their clientele, potentially avoiding that awkward
feeling everyone gets when stepping into a taxi cab. However, recently
collected data suggests that something even better is stemming from the
rise in popularity of these social applications.

Several cities in which these services are available are reporting dramatic
drops in driving under the influence (DUI) arrests and drunk driving accidents.
Seeing as how the services did not gain much momentum until 2012, only
three years ago, to already see a decline in DUIs is a great accomplishment.

For an example of progress that is being seen, San Francisco police only made
two DUI arrests on New Year’s Eve 2014; Philadelphia has enjoyed an
11% drop in DUI incidents since the car-ride services began there in 2013,
with nearly a 19% decrease found in drivers under the age of 30; and in
Los Angeles, Uber usage seems to spike between midnight and 4 AM, which
are traditionally the peak hours of DUI arrests.

Is Correlation Really Causation?

At this point, it is difficult to tell if Uber, Lyft, and others really
are directly causing these drops in dangerous driving behaviors. Until
more studies are conducted and perhaps on a broader scale, much of what
is being seen is purely speculation based on correlation. However, the
evidence for the study is strong and encouraging.

Experts agree that if more cities start using the service, drunk driving
accidents and arrests could decline in a similar fashion. If a nationwide
drop was experienced, theoretically
billions of dollars could be saved and
hundreds of lives could be spared annually.

In the meantime, if you have been arrested for drunk driving in Miami,
contact my firm, Jonathan Blecher, P.A., for the legal assistance you need. I have more than
30 years of experience handling DUI cases in Florida and a strong reputation as
a powerful advocate that is not afraid to fight for my clients’
rights. Call
305.707.0036 today.